Hand-stamp



fixed to the handle, and the result is, that turned upon it, which forms with a cor` UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

STEPHEN P. RUGGLES, OF BOSTON, MASSAQHUSETTS.

HAND-STAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

T 0 all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, STEPHEN P. RUGGLEs, of Boston, in the county of Suolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Stamps for Stamping Letters, Papers, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had t-o the accompanying drawings, making a part thereof, in which- Figure l represents a perspective view, Fig. 2, represents an end view, and Fig. 3, a vertical section through the st-amp.

Similar letters in the several figures refer to like parts.

In the construction of hand stamps heretofore made the stamp has been rigidly unless the stamp is held, and brought down in a perfectly perpendicular line, the impression will only be partially made. Reference to t-he post office stamps upon letters will fully show this defect, there not being on an average one in ten that are even legible.

The nature of my invention consists in so constructing a hand stamp, that, by moving it in the arc of a circle such as would be naturally made by the rising and falling of the arm, it will still come down upon the paper at all points of its surface, although it may strike at an. angle with the plane upon which the material to be stamped is placed, and at all times make a fair and perfect impression, whether moved in a perpendicular or oblique line to the same.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de scribe the same with reference to the drawmOs.

Phe shank a. of the stamp, may have a ball responding circular recess in the top of the stock c, a universal joint, so as to adapt itself to any plane surface, at whatever angle it may strike such surface. Or, instead of a ball and socket joint, a gimbal may be used, or any other well known mechanical contrivance for an elastic oint.

At a suitable distance above the stock c, on the shank a, is placed a fast collar a?, against which one end of the helical spring e, rests, the other end of said spring resting in a shoulder or recess which may be turned 8,388, dated september 23, 1851.

in the top of the stock e. The helical spring surrounds the shank loosely, and keeps the stock in its proper position, and when the stamp strikes at any angle with the plane upon which the article to be stamped is placed, the helical spring yields, so as to allow the die or stamp to come down perfectly fiat, and make a fair impression, and immediately resume its proper relative position with the shank after being raised up or released. The stamp may be used without the helical spring, but I prefer its use, as it always keeps the die in proper position for immediate use, allowing it to stand erect, in which position it may be more readily grasped in the hand.

The plate g, in the stock, may be an electrotype and secured therein by a screw f, so as to be readily removed or the letters may be set in by wedges or keys, as is done in the stamps now in use, the stock being properly countersunk so as to allow the letters, figures, &c., to stand fiush with that part of the stock t, which forms the border to the impression when made. I much prefer however the electrotype plates, a set of which may be made for every day in the year, at a cost of about fifteen dollars, which in the end will be found more economical than the removing and resetting of the dierent letters and figures daily. I have' in this description more particularly alluded to such stamps as are changed in whole or in part daily, but I intend to apply my invention 4to any and all kinds of hand stamps, whether for holding permanentdies or otherwise.

The shank may be secured to the handle z', in any of the well known forms of such attachments.

Having thus fully described the nature of my invention, what I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Securing the plate of a hand stamp to the shank or handle, by means of a universal ball and socket or other joint, so as to allow the stamp to make a fair impression at whatever angle it may strike the material to be stamped, as herein fully set forth and eX- plained. v

STEPHEN P. RUGrGrLES.V Witnesses:

NATHAN T. Dow, F. L. BAILEY. 

